MTA Taps Hakim as N.Y. City Transit President

Ronnie Hakim, a 23-year MTA veteran, returns to the agency to run New York City Transit after 18 months as NJ Transit's executive director.

Veronique "Ronnie" Hakim, the executive director at NJ Transit the past 18 months, will become president of New York City Transit.

She will begin on Dec. 28 as the agency's eighth permanent president, according to Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Thomas Prendergast. The MTA, where Hakim worked for 23 years earlier in her career, runs New York City Transit, which operates the city's subways and buses.

NJ Transit operates 12 commuter rail lines, three light rail lines, 261 bus routes and Access Link paratransit service across the Garden State. She previously served nearly four years as executive director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

"Ronnie's comprehensive transportation experience, her detailed vision for the future and her demonstrated ability to bring real improvements to customers make her the right person to tackle New York City Transit's challenges now," Prendergast said in a statement.

At the MTA, Hakim was special counsel at New York City Transit and executive vice president and general counsel at MTA Capital Construction, where she provided senior management with policy and legal advice on megaprojects such as the Second Avenue Subway, East Side Access and the 7 train extension to Hudson Yards. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Rochester and a law degree from Pace University.

She replaces James Ferrara, the interim president of New York City Transit since Carmen Bianco retired in August.

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